Variety of calla lily named &#39;Vermeer&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘Vermeer’ is a new variety of calla lily having a flower with a white and purple colored spathe producing 1-15 flowers per tuber. The flower stems are about 60 cm in height. The leaves are green with whitish spots and have a leathery texture.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Zantedeschia sprengeri

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘VERMEER’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of callalily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Vermeer’.

‘Vermeer’ is the result of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for cut flower production ina wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breedingprogram began in 1989 and the new cultivar is a seedling selected fromthe crossing of Zantedeschia sprengeri seedling 95845 (female parent)with Zantedeschia sprengeri seedling 95846 (male parent). ‘Vermeer’ wasselected in 2001 by the inventor C. J .J. Randag in 't Zand, TheNetherlands, as one flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Vermeer’ by tissue culture wasperformed by the inventor in August of 2001 in 't Zand, The Netherlands.Subsequent asexual reproduction by tissue culture at the same locationhas demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for the new cultivar are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in 't Zand, The Netherlands under greenhouse conditions whichapproximate those generally used in horticultural practice. Colorreferences are made to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal HorticultureSociety of London, except where general color terms of ordinarysignificance are used.

The present variety has not been evaluated under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations inenvironment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined tobasic characteristics of ‘Vermeer’ which, in combination, distinguishthis calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Round, white and purple spathe;

2. Fast forcing time; and

3. High flower production.

Table 1 provides similarities and differences of ‘Vermeer’ to itsparents and Zantedeschia sprengeri variety ‘Picasso’ U.S. Plant Pat. No.15,282. TABLE 1 ‘Vermeer’ Similarities Differences 95845 (female parent)leaf shape Spathe color 95846 (male parent) leaf shape Spathe colorSpathe shape ‘Picasso’ (PP15, 282) leaf shape Spathe colour Spathe shapeNumber of white spots on leaves

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, withthe colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the flowers and leaves of the new variety;

FIG. 2 is a close-up photograph of flowers of the new variety; and

FIG. 3 is a photograph that illustrates the stability of the crop aftertissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

-   Size:    -   -   Height of the leaf canopy above the soil.—45-70 cm.        -   Height of top of flower above the soil.—70-100 cm.        -   Diameter.—30-45 cm.-   Form: Erect.-   Number of flowers per tuber:    -   -   Size 9-12 cm in diameter.—1-2 flowers.        -   Size 12-15 cm in diameter.—3-4 flowers.        -   Size 15-18 cm in diameter.—5-8 flowers.-   Branches:    -   -   Character.—Many, like the variety ‘Celeste’.        -   Average number.—5.        -   Color.—Between Green Group 143A and Yellow-Green Group 144B            with spots of Red Group 46A.        -   Length.—45-50 cm.        -   Diameter.—15-20 cm.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Width: 10- 15 cm. Length: 20-35 cm.        -   Number per plant.—7-25.        -   Shape.—Sagittate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Green Group 136A to 137A. Lower            surface: Green Group 136A to 137A.        -   Margin.—Wavy.        -   Veins.—Configuration: Pinnate. Color: Yellow-Green Group            147A.        -   Surface quality.—Leathery.        -   Petiole.—Length: 35-60 cm. Color: The base is between            Yellow-Green Group 144A and 145A with Red Group 46A spots.            The upper part of the petiole is between Yellow-Green Group            144A and 145A.-   Roots:    -   -   Color.—White.        -   Branching.—Not different from other Zantedeschia.

THE FLOWER

-   Spathe:    -   -   Size.—Length: 5-9 cm. Width: 5-8 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: The base color is Green-White Group            157A with a second color of purple between Purple Group 76A            and 76C. Lower surface: The base color is Green-White Group            157A with a second color of purple between Purple Group 76A            and 76C.        -   Vein color.—Varies between Black Group 202C and 202D.        -   Shape.—Round.-   Spadix:    -   -   Size.—Length: 15-40 mm. Diameter: 5-7 mm.        -   Color.—Between Yellow-Orange Group 16B and 16C.        -   Position relative to spathe.—Upright.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Size.—Length: 50-80 cm. Diameter: 8-12 mm.        -   Color.—Varies between Yellow-Green Group 144C and 145A.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Location of female organs.—Basal position of the spadix.        -   Location of male organs.—Upper position of the spadix.        -   Perianth.—Conspicuous.        -   Stamens.—Not visible before pollen release.-   Pistil:    -   -   Length.—About 1 mm.

GENERAL

-   Disease resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases noticed to    date.-   Pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility to pests noticed to date.-   Heat tolerance: No heat tolerance.-   Hardiness: Not hardy.-   Flowering: Tubers planted in a greenhouse in The Netherlands in    February produce flowers in April. Tubers planted outdoors in The    Netherlands in May produce flowers in July.-   Lastingness: About two weeks on the plant.-   Fragrance: None.

1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named ‘Verneer’ asherein described and illustrated.